Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 22:30
A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.
30. (Heb. ch. Deu 23:1.) Against Intercourse with a Father’s Wife, cp. Deu 27:20, and H, Lev 18:8; Lev 20:11, where the prohibition is extended to other female relatives. Either D’s law is earlier than H’s or D did not know of H’s. Its limitation to this special case is explained by the fact that such intercourse had been regarded as proof of succession to the father’s property (2Sa 3:7; 2Sa 16:22, 1Ki 2:22) and was become frequent (Eze 22:10); probably the survival of a practice general in early times (but condemned by J, Gen 35:22; Gen 49:4).
Thus among the ancient Arabs a man succeeded to his father’s wives along with other heritable property, but this was forbidden by the Korn, iv. 26. For instances in Syria see W. R. Smith, Kinship, etc., 86 90, OTJC 2 , 369 f. By 158 of ammurabi a man caught after his father’s death with a step-mother who has borne children, is cut off from his father’s house; by 157 incest is punished by burning. Cp. H, Lev 18:7.
uncover, etc.] Deu 27:20, for the sense see Rth 3:9, Eze 16:8, and cp. the Ar. parallel quoted through W. R. Smith in Driver’s Deut. 259, n. 1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. A man shall not take his father’s wife] This is to be understood as referring to the case of a stepmother. A man in his old age may have married a young wife, and on his dying, his son by a former wife may desire to espouse her: this the law prohibits. It was probably on pretence of having broken this law, that Solomon put his brother Adonijah to death, because he had desired to have his father’s concubine to wife, 1Kg 2:13-25.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Shall not take to wife. So this respects the state, and the next branch speaks of the act only.
His fathers wife; his mother-in-law. See Lev 18:8; 20:11; 1Co 5:1.
His fathers skirt, i.e. the skirt of the mothers garment, i.e. the nakedness, which is here called his fathers skirt, because his father and mother were one flesh, or because his father alone had the right to uncover it. The phrase is taken from the ancient custom or ceremony of the bridegrooms spreading the skirt of his garment over the bride, to signify his right to her, and authority over her, and his obligation to the marriage duty. See Rth 3:9; Eze 16:8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
A man shall not take his father’s wife,…. Not marry her, whether his own mother, or a stepmother; or even, as Aben Ezra thinks, anyone that was deflowered by his father. Jarchi interprets it of his father’s brother’s wife, which he was obliged to marry by virtue of the law in De 25:5
nor discover his father’s skirt; or lie with her his father had thrown his skirt over, or married; and which being the first, is mentioned here as a sample to all the rest forbidden Le 18:7 or, as Bishop Patrick expresses it, is a “short memorandum”, to make them careful to observe all the other laws respecting incestuous marriages and copulations there delivered.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(or Deu 23:1) This verse, in which the prohibition of incest is renewed by a repetition of the first provision in the earlier law (Lev 18:7-8), is no doubt much better adapted to form the close of the laws of chastity and marriage, than the introduction to the laws which follow concerning the right of citizenship in the congregation of the Lord.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verse 30:
Compare this text with Lev 18:7-8. It is a prohibition of all incestuous relations.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
30. A man shall not take his father’s wife. Since Moses does not here refer to any other kinds of incest, but speaks only of that with a step-mother, it is probable that, what he had more fully set forth before he here briefly recalled to the minds of the Israelites under a single head. At any rate, the prohibition of one offense does not open the gate to other abominations. The expression which he adds, “nor discover his father’s skirt,” is as much as to say, that the father is exposed to shame when the step-son has; no regard to decency, and goes in to his step-mother. Perhaps he alludes to the sin of Ham, who betrayed his ungodliness by exposing the shame of his father. (Gen 9:22.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) IMPURITY TOWARD A FATHERS WIFE (Deu. 22:30)
30 A man shall not take his fathers wife, and shall not uncover his fathers skirt.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 22:30
384.
Consider Lev. 18:8; Lev. 20:11 and Deu. 27:20 for a complete perspective.
385.
Is this a sin of incest?
386.
How is the word skirt used here?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 22:30
30 A man shall not take his fathers former wife, nor shall he uncover her who belongs to his father.
COMMENT 22:30
See also Deu. 27:20, Lev. 18:8; Lev. 20:11. The sin here is not necessarily with ones mother, for frequently a husband had two or more wives. Note the distinction between Lev. 18:7-8. Inasmuch as a wife was considered the husbands possession and property, it was his fathers skirt. Reubens sin was similar, Gen. 35:22, as was also Absoloms, 2Sa. 16:20-22.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
30. A man shall not take his father’s wife Comp. Lev 18:7-8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A Son Must Not Make Love To His Father’s Wife ( Deu 22:30 )
Deu 22:30
‘ A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.’
The short section on sexual misdemeanour ends with the worse possible case, that of a man taking his father’s wife, (probably not to be seen as his own mother), and having intercourse with her. This would uncover his own father’s naked relationship, and would be a gross insult to the father and a great sin against him, betraying family honour and trust, and destroying family relationships. It might also be seen as an attempt to usurp his father’s place (the father may have been dead). It put the son under a curse (Deu 27:20).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 30. Nor discover his father’s skirt A modest phrase for unlawful commerce. See the places referred to in the margins of our Bibles.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
HOLY SPIRIT of truth! enable me to see the precious designs of thy blessed will, in the compassion thou hast manifested by those precepts of tenderness, by which thy people are to show their affection to their brethren, in their regard to whatever is theirs. And as the one great character by which they are known, is, that they dwell alone, and are not reckoned among the nations: may I never mingle anything with the garment of JESUS’S righteousness, but be found wholly the LORD’S, both, towards him and all that are in the world. LORD, keep my soul chaste and inviolable to thee, and spotless among men. Oh! preserve me blameless to the day of thy coming, and may I walk in love, as CHRIST also hath loved me and given himself for me, an offering and a sacrifice to GOD, for a sweet smelling savour: but fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named, as becometh a saint of JESUS; and may the peace of GOD, rule in my heart, to the which I am also called, and be thankful.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 22:30
30A man shall not take his father’s wife so that he will not uncover his father’s skirt.
Deu 22:30 A man shall not take his father’s wife This probably means a man cannot marry his stepmother (possibly one of several wives), even if the father has died or the woman has been divorced.
his father’s skirt This is an idiomatic way of referring to the father’s marital activities (cf. Rth 3:9; Eze 16:8). To be intimate with a woman who had previously been intimate with one’s father was, in a sense, a violation of the father (cf. Deu 27:20; Lev 18:8; Lev 20:11).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. How much of this chapter would you say applies to our culture? How do you determine your decision?
2. What is the background of these laws?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
skirt. Put by Figure of speech Euphemy (App-6), for nakedness. Compare Lev 18:7, Lev 18:8; Lev 20:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a man shall: This is to be understood as referring to the case of a stepmother. A man in his old age may have married a young woman, and on his dying, his son by another, or a former wife, may desire to espouse her; which is here forbidden. Deu 27:20, Lev 18:8, Lev 20:11, 1Co 5:1, 1Co 5:13
discover: Rth 3:9, Eze 16:8
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
22:30 A man shall not {l} take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.
(l) He shall not lie with his stepmother, meaning by this all other variations forbidden in Lev 18:1-30.